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EU Didn't Stop Apple From Including Charger With M5 MacBook Pro
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Apple decreased the cost of the M5 MacBook Pro by €100 compared to the M4 MacBook Pro.
The cost of the 70 Watt charger separately is €65, but you don't even have to buy that specific one. For example, it's <€40 for an Anker 65 W charger.
How does Apple benefit from p*ssing off its EU customers when Apples beef is with EU govt.?
Pricing has already been posted several times in this thread, but Apple reduced pricing by €100.
Well ****.
Now I hope they start pulling it out of the box in the USA!
I've used the charger that came with my MacBook maybe once ever. All our wall outlets have USBC outlets that are just easier, and my studio display charges it, so zero reason to use it at home. When I travel, I have one adapter with 4 USBC ports to charge all my devices, so I don't use it when away. The in box charger is just straight ewaste for me.
Apple's new M5 MacBook Pro will ship without a power adapter in the box in the United Kingdom and European Union, prompting online confusion that the change was mandated by EU law — a claim that is incorrect.
Apple quietly updated its online store following the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro to note that customers in the UK and EU who purchase the new 14-inch model will no longer receive a charging brick by default. The laptop still includes a MagSafe 3 cable, but buyers must purchase a compatible USB-C power adapter separately. The change does not apply to other markets such as the United States, where a 70W USB-C Power Adapter remains included at no extra cost.
The omission led some observers to suggest that the decision was required under new European environmental regulations. Some claimed that the European Union had banned manufacturers from including power adapters with new electronics in order to reduce electronic waste, but this is not the case.
The confusion appears to stem from the EU's 2022 Common Charger Directive, legislation designed to standardize charging ports and give consumers flexibility when purchasing new devices. The directive requires that all smartphones, tablets, and laptops sold within the EU use USB-C for wired charging. It also stipulates that consumers must be offered the option to buy a device without a charger to limit unnecessary e-waste.
The law "ensures that consumers will be able to purchase new electronic devices without having to obtain a new charger each time," but it does not prevent manufacturers from supplying one. In practice, this means companies must provide a version of each product that can be purchased without an adapter, while retaining the freedom to include a charger or offer it free of charge.
Apple's decision to remove the charger entirely from the EU boxes therefore goes beyond what the law requires. The company could, for example, offer customers the option to include a charger at checkout for no additional cost, as long as it also sells a version without one. The lack of charger in the UK is even more unnecessary, since it is not part of the European Union.
The move to charge separately for adapters is therefore a business choice by Apple, not a legal necessity. The company's approach simplifies logistics and packaging, avoiding the need for separate SKUs in Europe, but it also shifts the cost to customers who do not already own a compatible charger.
Apple has historically argued that omitting power bricks from its packaging is part of a wider environmental effort. The company first removed the charger from iPhone boxes in 2020, citing the environmental benefits of smaller packaging and fewer redundant accessories. Similar reasoning has since extended to other product lines. By reducing the size and weight of shipments, Apple says it can cut carbon emissions and limit use of resources across its supply chain.
The M5 MacBook Pro continues to support both MagSafe and USB-C charging. Customers can use existing 67W, 96W, or 140W USB-C adapters to charge the device, depending on the configuration. Apple sells its own USB-C power adapters separately, and the company's online product pages now prominently note that "power adapter sold separately" for the affected regions.
Pricing adjustments partly offset the omission in some regions. In several European countries, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro is approximately €100 cheaper than its predecessor, although the UK model retains the same starting price.
Article Link: EU Didn't Stop Apple From Including Charger With M5 MacBook Pro
I have no problem with Apple selling laptops without a charger if
- The price is reduced
- The charger is available as an add on.
This results in no additional SKU, reduces the number of unneeded chargers that are manufactured, just to sit in a box and save customers money if they don’t need it.
This seems to be what Apple has done in the EU and I can’t see any reason to object, other than the fact that you appear to only be able to easily add a charger to a non standard build. I assume you can just add one as a separate item in your basket. I would have thought that this was an easy fix.
However, as a UK customer this is not the case. M5 MBP without charger is the same price as M4MBP with charger, so effectively a price hike. Although it’s probably not enough to affect purchasing decisions, it does leave a bad taste in the mouth. I assume people will suggest it’s an exchange rate issue, but this only seems to go one way.
I dunno about the M5 MacBook Pro, but for our M4 MacBook Air, I'm so glad I got the Apple 35 W dual USB-C charger instead of the 70 Watt charger, since the 35 W is sufficient when the MBA is in use and 17.5 W is sufficient when not in use, and it's great having the dual USB-C ports when traveling. And yeah, at home we charge with a 15 W USB-C outlet when the laptop isn't in use, and with 30 W USB-C outlets when it is in use in other spots. (I was originally planning to swap out the 15 W outlet for a 30 W version, but it turns out it hasn't been necessary.)
If I were to buy a charger for the M5 MacBook Pro, I'd probably buy a multi-port 65 W charger, unless I was constantly on-the-go and needed to use fast charging frequently. In that case I'd probably buy a 96 W charger... which costs well under €100.
I just purchased a 140w charger from Anker. I do have quite a number of their chargers lying around the house and at my workplace. I live in a country where a Macbook would come with a bundled charger, and even if Apple were to remove it in the near future, it's a non-issue for me.
Anker 140W USB-C Charger, 4-Port Multi-Device Fast Charging Laptop Charger, Advanced GaN Power Adapter, Intuitive Touch Controls, for MacBook, iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, and More (Silver)
Enjoy the convenience of powering four devices simultaneously with our advanced GaN technology for optimal performance.
www.amazon.sg
I feel that a lot of the problem (for me) stems from the fact that Apple-bundled chargers typically pale in comparison to what is available elsewhere. Third party chargers are typically cheaper (especially since Anker periodically discounts their products), sport better charging speeds and come with multiple ports. So yeah, include one, don't include one, I don't think I will be using Apple's charging bricks either way.
Cue the other manufacturers bashing Apple for this, then a year later doing it themselves…
You're posting this... on an article where they literally are not blaming the EU for something involving Apple?
Fine by me. I always use a 3rd party charger of one sort or another anyway (either multi-port or built into a display or dock). I have more spare Apple chargers than I know what to do with.
Frankly they can keep the MagSafe cord too.
I understand that my needs aren't everyone's needs. But FOR ME, the charger won't be missed.
Frankly they can keep the MagSafe cord too.
I understand that my needs aren't everyone's needs. But FOR ME, the charger won't be missed.
The simplified SKU argument is invalid because most EU countries use different keyboard layouts. It’s not just about throwing a different plugs into the box — the laptop’s body itself varies significantly between markets.
Then Apple will raise the price, and if the charger alone is $50, I hope they raise the price of the computer by $75 to include it.
So what? They should still ship them with a charger. I don't understand how anyone can defend Apple or any other company that might be doing this.